Page 50 of Destined to the Reaper

“Okay, I can see how that would be terrible for her. But that doesn’t make it less evil that she would condemn you to this life of slavery,” Kali challenged.

I smiled. “That would be true of a human or some of the more evolved species of the netherworld. But do not be fooled by her ability to hold a conversation. It’s not a reflection of higher thinking. Have you ever spoken with a gnome? They can converse with you, but they’re dumb as a rock. There is a reason many of the lesser demons and lower tier species never achieved the type of evolution humans have. They live in primitive conditions, only chasing after their next meal or a safe place to sleep, despite the powers that could have helped them advance. Their thinking capabilities and mental range are basic. They do not have the analytical minds to weigh things such as right and wrong, ethics, and morality in general.”

Kali frowned and pursed her lips while reflecting on my words. “I see what you mean. But I still struggle with seeing her as something other than evil.”

“Evil requires an intent to cause harm for the sake of cruelty or for entertainment. It is understanding right and wrong and choosing to go on the darker side. Creatures like Grizelleare literally unable to feel emotions such as empathy and compassion. They are purely driven by their instincts and will mindlessly pursue whatever can ensure their survival. To her, killing you or trapping me are logical actions that anyone in their right mind would do in her shoes.”

“Right. I can see that,” Kali conceded with a hint of reluctance.

I took a sip of my wine while reminiscing on how this entire mess took place to begin with.

“Creatures like her are easy to manipulate because their driving force is obvious, allowing to smoothly cater to it,” I said pensively. “That’s how Cornelius was able to recruit her into enslaving me.”

“I wondered about that! But frankly, I thought it had been the other way around, and that Grizelle sweet-talked Cornelius into it.”

I snorted and shook my head. “She’s not intelligent enough for that. As I understand it, Cornelius brought her victims to feed her blood pool in exchange for information about Reapers.”

“Information like what?” Kali asked while cutting a piece of meat, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

I hesitated as to how to best answer the question. “Mortals are distributed among Reapers in order for us to harvest their souls upon death. Most of them are randomly assigned as they draw nearer to the end of their thread. But they are weak marks that could be overwritten by one of us if we wished to claim them as ours to escort.”

“Like you did with me!” Kali said, her beautiful face lighting up with understanding.

I nodded. “Death creatures like Reapers and Keres—among others—can see that mark. It is like having our names branded on that person. Grizelle mostly haunts battlefields where she can get large feasts from all the fighters dying. She would roamaround noting those marked by an Angel of Death instead of a Grim Reaper.”

Her eyes widened with surprise. “Why specifically an Angel?”

“Because we are more compassionate. Cornelius needed one of us to increase his chances of achieving his plan. Grims usually teleport in, snatch the soul of the dying, and leave. We Angels tend to linger, comfort the dying, and ease them into departing.”

“So she identified a few potential targets, and you just ended up being the unlucky one,” my mate said pensively.

“Exactly,” I said, bitterness seeping into my voice.

“But how? I always wondered how a much weaker necromancer could have ensnared a demigod,” she asked sheepishly.

“It was part of the deal he made with Grizelle. Remember how the blood pool only had partial limbs and random organs floating inside?” I asked.

She nodded.

“The agreement was that Cornelius would bring humans for her to feed off their blood and life force, but he got to keep some of their parts for his constructs. It took a while, but he eventually managed to kidnap one of the humans marked by an Angel of Death who she had identified for him.”

“Eventually managed?”

I nodded. “As most of the targets were on battlefields, too many died before he could get to them. It isn’t easy to abduct someone surrounded by the other members of their units.”

“Right, not to mention him getting to wherever the battle was taking place in time,” she said.

“Exactly. But once he got thealmathar, Cornelius set up the trap to lure me in.Almatharis the name we give a person about to die who we will escort shortly to the afterlife,” I explained when she gave me a confused look. “As his magic wasn’tpowerful enough, Cornelius needed Grizelle’s help to boost his own skills and achieve his goal.”

“Wow, he really planned this out!”

“That’s one thing I must grant him. Cornelius is extremely calculated and thorough. No challenge is too great when it can help further his ambitions.”

“So I see,” Kali replied with a shudder. “So what happened?”

“As soon as their life thread is about to end, we receive a call. It’s a tug similar to what you felt when Cornelius was trying to pull me back as you were transferring me into my body.”

She nodded.

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